Tucson, April 2007Vandals ransacked a local mosque, writing "Bush was here" on one of the computer screens. Sources:'Anti-Muslim rhetoric' cited after vandalism at mosque in UA area, Arizona Daily Star, Apr. 5, 2007

Illinois

3 or 4 anti-mosque incidents

Des Plaines, IL July 2010The city council approved an expanded parking lot for a local mosque despite objections from residents, with the Mayor explaining, that “[t]here have been other churches that have had additional parking (expansions). . . . I don't remember any controversy as far as I've been on the council.”Sources: Mosque faces growing pains, Madhu Krishnamurthy, Daily Herald, July 18, 2010

Boston, MA, July 2009The Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center is in Roxbury in the heart of Boston. It is the largest Islamic center in New England, and the second largest on the East Coast. It has a very diverse membership, representing more than 25 national groups and ethnicities. After an arduous seven-year building process and five years of litigation after it became a lightning rod for controversy generated by groups that did not want the mosque to be built, it opened its doors in June 2009. Sources:http://pluralism.org/news/continuing_stories_view/77

Minnesota

1 or 2 anti-mosque incidents

St. Anthony, June 2012The St. Anthony City Council rejected plans for a local Islamic center after a public meeting. Some of those who spoke against the center expressed their anti-Muslim bias with statements such as, 'Islam is evil.'Sources:http://www.startribune.com/local/158785005.html

The controversy over the planned Park 51 community center in New York City is only one example of opposition to mosques and Islamic centers in the United States. Existing and proposed mosque sites across the country have been targeted for vandalism and other criminal acts, and there have been efforts to block or deny necessary zoning permits for the construction and expansion of other facilities.

While mosque opponents frequently claim their objections are based on practical considerations such as traffic, parking, and noise levels, those asserted concerns are often pretexts masking anti-Muslim sentiment. Government officials in some areas of the country have yielded to this religious bigotry, treating mosques and Islamic centers differently than other proposed houses of worship and/or denying zoning permits without the compelling interest that is required by the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (a federal civil rights law that affords heightened legal protection to the use of property for religious purposes). Even where local governments strongly support religious freedom, private citizens nevertheless often seek to intimidate Muslims into forgoing the exercise of this freedom.

The Constitution guarantees the right of private citizens to protest, and the ACLU would vigorously defend that right if infringed by the government. But making Muslims – or any other religious group – feel unwelcome in local communities conflicts with our Founders' vision of religious liberty and tolerance. Protests that cross the line into violence and other criminal acts are, of course, not protected by law and are indefensible.

Above is a map highlighting anti-mosque incidents across the country over the past five years. If you are aware of an anti-mosque incident not on this list, please contact us.